Crop residue burning to resume in North Central Idaho

Agricultural burning is expected to resume this week, contingent on local conditions

During the past week, air quality conditions in north central Idaho have steadily improved. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Nez Perce Tribe are advising the public that agricultural burning is expected to resume this week, contingent on local conditions.

A number of factors are considered to determine if burning will be allowed:

The current and projected fire weather and air quality conditions

The number of fires burning or planned in the area

The amount of smoke already present in the airshed

Coordination between agencies that conduct and/or oversee burning

Prescribed burning (both agricultural and forestry) in North Central Idaho is overseen by DEQ outside reservation boundaries and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Nez Perce Tribe within the Nez Perce Reservation. DEQ and the Nez Perce Tribe also coordinate with the Idaho Department of Lands to address fire safety concerns. Burners are required to obtain permits for both fire safety and air quality and receive verbal approval prior to ignition.

For information, call the Crop Residue Burning Hotline at 1 (800) 345-1007 or contact the Nez Perce Tribe Air Quality Program at 1 (800) 720-4089 or airquality@nezperce.org.